The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-05-13
CRIME BY SUGGESTION.


CRIME ~ SUGGESTION.
0saplessaess q Hystsrical Persoas Wines
h n Hypsotis Csndltlea.
At the last session of the French
Academy Of Medicine paper was read
by DIR. Mesnet, which was, to say the
least. suggestive. It referred to the
possibility Of influencing the actions Of
nervous. hystcrical patients when in an
| hypnotic condition. and compelling
them to violate the moral law-n0t
only without their consent but in spite
OF their resistance. and, Of course,
without their knowledge. Were the
statements not made ON the highest
scientific authority they would be al
once rejected rs incredible. The
theories they suggest in the way Of the
successful accomplishment of secret
crimes are simply startling.
DIR. Mesnet narrates the case Of q
young man Of nineteen who was SIR.
prised and arrested Mt the moment he
was quickly carrying away from before
a furniture store chairs, tables and a
wardrobe with which to furnish his
rooms across the way. The youth was
taken to the Hotel de Dieu (the we'll
known hospitaD and placed under sur
Vigilance by the doctor. He had, il
was found. nervous ''antecedents," his
mother being subject to Mysteries. He
himself is a sOmnambulist and talks in
his sleep. At times he would rise,
sweep the room, arrange the furniture,
and on awakening would have no re-
mcmbrance of his actions. Recently
sleep overcame him while thus occu-
pied. DR.. Mesnct had no difficulty in
"hypotizing" him. He then waited,
and availed himself of the first oppor.
tunity to order him to do some illegal
act during his slumbers.
One day, when l called. says the
physician, he fixed his eyes on me and
dropped asleep. He followed m.
everywhere and heard only my voice.
i took him to DR.. Tillaux, and fixed
my eyes on my worthy confrere. The
patient did the same. From that mo-
ment was blOtted out of his mind.
and he became identified with his new
posscssOr. whose motions he repeated
with scrupulous fidelity. Ipassed my
hands between the eyes of Tillaux and
my own. and he again came under my
control. decided tn order him to dc
something after his awakening.
Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock
you are TO come to my office. Monsieur
X. whom you know, will be there. You
will take his watch chain from him."
His face showed very plainly that he
did not fancy the commission. I re.
peated the order in an imperative tone.
''Well!" he at last replied.
The next day, during my visit, con.
versed with him. He replied with
great vivacity. Then 1 went toward
my office. He followed me. In few
moments he began to look intently at
the watch chain visible under the half
opened palctot of X, who was on my
right, the patient being on fry left.
Meantime his pupils dilated. he blushed
and grew pale by turns. while his whole
appearance attested great mental sui.
fering. He slowly stepped forward.
reached towards the chain but did not
touch it; then he suddenly rushed for.
ward. withdrew the key from the vest
button, took out both watch and chain,
ran out of the room and down stairs as
fast as his legs would carry him. At
the foot of the staircase a policeman
barred his passage.
''Where did you come from?''
II don't know"
I feel in his right hand pocket and
produce the watch and chain. He
burst into tears and threw himself at
my feet. exclaiming:
II am not thief. swear am not"
Then he stood up and wanted to
beat his brains out against the wall.
Finally he had cataleptic fit. The
patient on being questioned after he
awoke, hearing that he WAS accused of
theft, Indignantly protested. swore
that he knew nothing of the acts with
which he was charged, and at last be.
came so excited that it took dozen
persons to hold him. The means used
to again bring him to hlmsclf-breath.
ing on his face and eyes and the use of
cold water-were for long time tried
in vain, the hypnotic state arising in
this latter case not from any exterior
act, but from his own emOtiOn-PGris